Tetsuincho: collecting railway stamps to explore Japan differently

Travelling through Japan by train is not limited to high-speed majors. Through the Tetsuincho, a book dedicated to railway stamps, the journey takes on a playful and immersive dimension. This project, launched in 2020 by the association of railway companies in the third sector, invites you to discover some 40 local networks throughout the archipelago. Each stage becomes an opportunity to support regional lines, explore less frequented territories and maintain a tangible track of its route.

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What is Tetsuincho?

The Tetsuincho, literally “book of iron seals”, is inspired by the principle of goshuincho used in temples and shrines. Here, it is not religious calligraphy that is collected, but official tampons specific to each participating railway company.

The program was launched by the Third Sector Railway Association in July 2020 to encourage travellers to use local lines. The principle is simple: buy the notebook, travel on a partner line, present your ticket at the designated ticket office and pay a stamp fee from 300 yen. Each company offers an original design, often illustrated, sometimes handwritten, sometimes printed.

Beyond the collection, the initiative helps boost the areas served by these lines. Many cross rural, coastal or mountainous areas where the train is an essential link for the inhabitants.

Book characteristics and operation

Tetsuincho is sold at the guide price of 2,500 yen. It is presented in accordion form, with about fifty pages in 16 cm by 11 cm format. Its compact size makes it easy to slip into a travel bag.

The sale takes place at the designated counters of the participating companies. The practical information concerning the places of purchase and the timetable for obtaining the stamps should be checked directly with each railway operator.

Some networks offer limited editions or commemorative stamps related to an anniversary, new rolling stock or a regional event. For a tailor-made route, it is appropriate to anticipate the opening days of the ticket offices, as some small stations are not permanently open.

Official Recognition: Japan Railway Award

In October 2021, the Tetsuincho project received a special award at the Japan Railway Awards, rewarding initiatives to promote rail and enhance public interest in rail transport.

The jury praised the originality of the concept, which revisits the idea of buffer rallies by creating a real logic of national collection, structured around a dedicated notebook and a certification system. This recognition increased the visibility of the project among train enthusiasts and curious travellers.

The participating railway companies

The Tetsuincho covers all Japanese territory from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Partner companies include:

Southern Hokkaido Railway Company
Sanriku Railway
IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway
Akita Nairiku Railway
Yuri Kogen Railway
Yamagata Railway
Abukuma Express
Aizu Railway
Yagan Railway
Watarase Valley Railway
Mooka Railway
Kashima Rinkai Railway
Isumi Railway
Hokuetsu Express
Shinano Railway
Echigo Tokimeki Railway
Ainokaze Toyama Railway
IR Ishikawa Railway
Noto Railway
Akechi Railway
Nagaragawa Railway
Tarumi Railway
Tenryu Hamanako Railway
Aichi Loop Railway
Ise Railway
Shigaraki Kogen Railway
Kyoto Tango Railway
Hojo Railway
Wakasa Railway
Chizu Express
Ibara Railway
Nishikigawa Railway
Asa Coast Railway
Tosa Kuroshio Railway
Heisei Chikuho Railway
Amagi Railway
Matsuura Railway
Minamiaso Railway
Kumagawa Railway
Hisatsu Orange Railway
Happy Line Fukui

In mid-2024, six additional companies were added to the list. These companies were based in the Tohoku region.

Seikan Tunnel Memorial Museum(Seikan Tunnel Memorial Museum)
Tsugaru Railway(Tsugaru-Goshogawara Station, Kanagi Station, Tsugaru-Nakasato Station)
Aoimori Railway(Noheji Station, Misawa Station)
Konan Railway(Hirosaki Station, Kuroshi Station, Owani Station, Hirosaki Chuo Station, Hiraga Station)
Sendai Airport Railroad(Sendai Airport Station)
Fukushima Transportation(Iizaka Onsen Station)

In 2025, ten additional companies were added to the list. These companies are based in the Tokai region.

Izukyu Railway(Izukogen Station, Izukyu Shimoda Station)
Izuhakone Railway(Shuzenji Station)
Gakunan Electric Railway(Yoshiwara Station)
Shizuoka Railway(Shin-Shizuoka Station)
Oigawa Railway(Shin-Kanaya Station)
Enshu Railway(Shin-Hamamatsu Station, Nishikashima Station, Railway Office (Enshu Nishigasaki Station)
TKJ/JR Central(Johoku Line, Office ticket)
Yoro Railway(Ibi Station, Ogaki Station, Nishi-Ogaki Station, Yoro Station, Komano Station, Tado Station, Shimofukaya Station)
Sangi Railway(Sangi Line: Hobo Station, Higashi-Fujiwara Station, Hokusei Line: Toin Station)
Iga Railway(Uenoshi Station)

These lines cover a variety of landscapes: wild coasts of the Japanese Sea, coveted valleys, rice fields, agricultural plains and volcanic coastlines. Incorporating several of these companies into a route allows you to leave the classic circuits and deepen the regional discovery.

Interactive map of Tetsuincho

The Tetsuincho Meister Card

Passengers who manage to collect all the stamps can apply for a Tetsuincho Meister Card with a serial number. This certification, issued against cost, marks the culmination of a real journey across the country.

To obtain it, complete the notebook, enter its contact details, attach the equivalent of 1,000 yen in stamps and send it to the publisher responsible for the program in Tokyo. After checking, the card is issued and returned with the notebook.

This requires investment in time and travel. It can be considered on several trips, structuring each trip around specific regions.

Practical tips for organising a Tetsuincho route

Integrating Tetsuincho into a journey requires careful planning. Many lines in the third sector are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. It is therefore necessary to assess the cost of journeys and to identify possible compatible regional passes.

The frequencies can be spaced, especially in rural areas. Checking times, connections and opening days avoids disappointment. Some companies ask to present a ticket of the day to get the stamp.

It is advisable to combine the collection with cultural or natural stages near the stations: historical villages, local railway museums, markets, coastal hikes or regional thermal baths. The notebook thus becomes the driving thread of a thematic journey centered on the regional rail.

An original way to discover Japan

The Tetsuincho transforms a train journey into a participatory experience. Each stamp tells a local identity, a clean design, a specific railway history. For both train enthusiasts and travellers looking for less conventional routes, the concept offers a structured and motivating approach.

It also supports lines that play a vital role in the daily mobility of residents. By choosing these networks, the traveller takes a concrete part in valuing sometimes unknown territories.

Exploring Japan through the Tetsuincho is about agreeing to slow down the pace, multiply the matches and venture out of the main axes. The notebook then becomes a logbook, a witness of a patient and thorough journey through the railway archipelago.

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